Embalming-table



(N0 Model.)

A. E. LOOKHART.

EMBALMING TABLE.

No. 302,919. Patented Aug. 5, 1884.

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ALBERT E. LOGKHART, or CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

EMBALMlNG-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 302,919, dated August 5, .1884.

Applicatitn filed June 21, 1883. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT E. Loom-rarer, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have. invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Embalming-Tables, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is an isometrical view representing my improved enibaliningboard folded for storage or transportation; Fig. 2, a like view representing it open in position for use, and Fig.3 a vertical longitudinal section showing the canopy erected.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates to that class of embalming-boards which are portable, or adapted to be folded for storage or transportation; and it consists in a novel construction and an rangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a more effective device of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation, its extreme simplicity rendering an elaborate description unnecessary. The body of the board is constructed in two sections of equal size, rectangular in form, and hinged together at their inner ends, as shown at m. The section A is composed of the side rails m m and end rails cl f. The section B is composed of the side rails a n and end railsl g, each of the sections being provided with a reticulated covering, 0. The section A, which forms the head of the board, is supported 011 the pivoted cross-legs D E, the legs D being jointed at h to the rails m, and the legs E pivoted at their upper or inner ends by means of thestuds i, which work in grooves 19, formed in the inner sides of the rails m. These grooves open outwardly at w, and are curved at their inner ends, as shown at 2, so

that when the studs '5 are inserted at w and passed along the grooves in erecting the legs the stud z will enter the short groove r, after passing the curvez, and thereby lock the legs in an erect position. The section B, which forms the foot of the board, is supported on the.

pivoted cross-legs G H, the legs G being jointed at t to the rails 92, and the legs H provided at their upper or inner ends with studs '0, which work .in grooves q, in substantially the same manner as the stud z works in the groove 19. When the board is in position for use, the sections are. opened outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, the legs E D being longer than the legsG H, so that when the legs are erected the head of the board will be higher than its foot, as best shown in Fig. 3, and so that the process of embalining may be more effectively pen formed. A head-rest consisting of the metal- .lic ring J, provided with the standard a, is arranged horizontally at the head of section A, the standard being fitted to work vertically in a hole, b, in the end rail (1, and made adjustable therein by the set-screw a, or by any suitable means for that purpose. A button, c, is attached to the end rail (1 of section A, as shown in Fig. 1, and when the board is packed for transportation or storage the headrest is removed and the standard a inserted in the hole It in the rail g of section B, thestandard being pushed in to its fullest extent, or until the ring J is brought into contact with the rails g (I, when the button is turned, thereby locking the sections A B together, as shown in Fig. 1. Disposed in holes I in the rails m m, and rendered vertically adjustable therein by means of the set-screws m m, or other suitable means, are two rods or standards, L, provided at their upper ends with the curved projections M, these parts M L forming arm-rests. Each of the sections A B is provided with a canopy support or frame, 1?, consisting of the rods j j,which are connected at their outer or upper ends by the cross-bars S, and provided with the knobs a, the rods j j being fitted to slide longitudinally in proper holes or openings, T, formed in the railsm a, so that when the supports are not in use they may be housed, as shown in Fig. 1, the end rails 9 cl being grooved, as shown at F, to receive the bars S flush with their surfaces. The hole k in the rail 9 is formed near its edge, or below the groove F in said rail, so that when the canopysupports are housed and the standard a is inserted in said hole and pushed in to bring the ring J into contact with the rails g d and the button 6 turned both of the canopy-supports will be secured in position by the ring, which is of such a size as to extend over the bars S of the supports and lock them in position, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the use of. my improvement, the board being closed, as shown in Fig. 1, the button e is turned down, the'standard a and ring J withdrawn from the rail 9, and the board opened and erected-on its legs, as shown in Fig. 2, the stud i being inserted in the groove 12 at w, and passed around the curve zinto the short groove r, and the stud o inserted in the groove q and passed into the groove Q, as shown in Fig. 3. The standard a, carrying the ring J, is then inserted in the hole bin the rail d and adjusted by the screw a as desired. The body or cadaver to be embalmed is then placed upon the board,with the head resting on the ring J, and the arm-rests erected by inserting the standards L in the holes I in the side rails m, and properly adjusted by the screws m, the arms of the cadaver being placed on the projections M, after which the process of emba1m-- ing may be conducted in the usual manner. A canopy, N, is used with the board, when required, as shown in Fig. 3, being sustainedon the supports 1?, which are erected at the head and foot of the board by inserting the rods j in the holes y,formed in the upper sides of the rails in n. The knobs or pulls to serve to prevent the canopy from slipping from the supports when in the position shown in Fig. 3, and also to assist in withdrawing the supports when housed, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that in packing the board for transportation the studs 2' o are withdrawn from the grooves p q through the openings w, thus enabling the legs E D GH to be folded down within their respective sections A B.

The canopy, and also the arm-rests and screws a m, when not in use, may be packed within the body of the board when the sections are closed, as shown in Fig. 1.

In embalming-boards of the ordinary construction no provision is .made for supportingthe arms or head of the cadaver, the arms being usually folded across the breast in such a manner that the liquids used in embalming will not properly penetrate these portions of the body. To obviate this difficulty, I make use of the-adjustable arm and head rests,constructed and arranged to operate as described, by means of which the arms and head may be readily placed and held in the best positions for embalming.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is- '1. The combination, with an embalmingboard, of an adjustable head-rest and adjustable arm-rests at the sides of the board, near the head thereof, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with an embalmingboard provided with vertical slots or sockets near its ends, and with horizontal end slots and transverse grooves between the latter, of

canopy-supporting frames constructed substantially as described, whereby they are adapted to be supported in said vertical slots when in use, and to be stowed away in the horizontal slots'and grooves,fiush with the ends of the board,when not in use, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the hinged sections forming an embalming board when folded outward, the outer end of the sections being provided, respectively, with a central hole or slot, and with a fastening device or button, folding frames for supporting said sections, and a head-rest composed of a rod or standard and a ring fixed to one end thereof, said headrest being adapted to serve as a locking device when the sections are closed by the insertion of the standard in said central slot, and the buttoning of the fastening device over said ring, substantially as described.

ALBERT Loo'KHART.

\Vitnesses:

C. A. SHAW, L. J. WHITE. 

